Rose Ayling-Ellis: Signs for Change

Editorial

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South HD

BBC Three

The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East HD

The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

BBC One North East & Cumbria HD

BBC One Oxfordshire

Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

BBC One Wales HD

BBC One West Midlands HD

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One South East HD

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands HD

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

BBC One HD

BBC One Oxfordshire HD

BBC One Cambridgeshire

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region. Separated as BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One London HD

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

BBC One Northern Ireland

BBC One East Midlands

BBC One North East & Cumbria

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

BBC One Yorkshire

BBC One London

London

BBC One North West HD

The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

BBC One West HD

Simulcast of BBC One Scotland in high definition. From 14/01/2013

BBC One Scotland HD

BBC One Yorks & Lincs HD

BBC One Channel Islands HD

BBC One Cambridgeshire HD

BBC One Wales

Wales

BBC One Channel Islands

BBC One East

BBC One West Midlands

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

BBC One North West

BBC One South

BBC One Nightlight

Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

BBC One Northern Ireland HD

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West

BBC One South East

BBC One South West HD

BBC One Yorkshire HD

BBC One West

BBC Three HD

Rose Ayling-Ellis

Todd Dalton

Jane Greenwood

Cathy Heffernan

Ted Evans

Documentaries

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

BBC One - Rose Ayling-Ellis: Signs for Change

Join Rose on a personal journey into the deaf experience to see if attitudes are changing.

Rose Ayling-Ellis takes us on a personal journey into the deaf experience and asks whether attitudes are finally changing.

Rose Ayling-Ellis fronts an exciting and groundbreaking film, challenging perceptions of the deaf community and putting audiences at the heart of the deaf experience.
 
Following the news that, as of April 2022, British sign language has been officially recognised in law, this documentary follows Rose on a personal journey as she speaks to those closest to her, as well as the people pushing boundaries within the deaf community. Exploring whether society is adapting fast enough to allow equality amongst the deaf and hearing worlds, Rose challenges the perception of deafness as something that needs to be cured, and highlights the beauty of sign language and the deaf experience.
 
Filmed over a period of time that sees her performing in Shakespeare’s As You Like It and reflecting on her time as the first regular deaf character in EastEnders and deaf contestant and winner of Strictly Come Dancing, Rose explores whether attitudes towards the deaf community are capable of changing.
 
Prior to joining Strictly, MP Rosie Cooper, whose parents were both deaf, had introduced a bill into Parliament asking for BSL to be legally recognised. Rose meets with her to discuss the misconceptions and attitudes that many faced then and now. Rose reflects on what it meant for her to grow up deaf, in discussion with her parents, the advice given to them from diagnosis, and questioning if anything has changed for those growing up deaf now. Rose meets deaf language expert Dr Kate Rowley and tests her own language abilities, raising questions about the role of sign language in her formative years. She is introduced to Katie and her son Alvie, who were advised not to learn sign language and who has since started a petition to encourage the UK government to make it more accessible.
 
She also meets a charity that teaches deaf children to speak. Rose explores how technology plays a role in the lives of deaf people and asks whether the hearing world focuses too much on technological fixes and too little on encouraging sign language. 
 
Throughout the film, Rose explores her deaf identity, peering into her personal world and who she is when surrounded by friends and family, as well as the Rose we see on screen and stage.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Rose Ayling-Ellis: Signs for Change

Contributors

Genres

Formats

BBC One South HD

About BBC One